John Lewis is taking on 80 young apprentices in 2012 in a programme that guarantees employment for all participants when their training is complete. 

An independent DIY retailer in South Shields has told DIY Week he is "disappointed but not surprised" after his appeal for inclusion in a social housing voucher scheme was turned down by South Tyneside council, which is continuing its exclusive partnership with B&Q well into 2013. 

A new campaign called 'Celebrate an Independent Christmas' is taking the country's independent retail community by storm. 

Pets could have a happier Christmas this year than grandparents if last year's festive shopping habits are repeated in 2012. 

Retailers are bracing themselves for a punishing rise in the price of tableware and ceramic kitchenware after the European Commission today announced the immediate imposition of new taxes. 

In yet another shake-up at the top, Robert Dyas chief executive officer Graham Coles is leaving the business - just four months after it was acquired by Theo Paphitis. 

Bodum says it is bringing in an independent risk assessor to test its barbecue grill after the authorities ordered it to be withdrawn from the market. 

The cream of the DIY and garden industry was celebrating at the Deansgate Hilton, Manchester last night, as the top products and retailers were named at the DIY Week Awards. 

The run-up to this Christmas is starting better than last year, and while the pressure is not off consumers, most factors are more positive. 

B&Q's Christmas campaign breaks tomorrow, November 14, the ad aiming to encourage consumers to decorate and titivate their homes in time for the big day. 

Two electrical accessories are amongst the latest products highlighted by authorities as posing a danger to end users. 

A later half term coupled with "distinctly autumnal weather" drove customers into John Lewis stores during the week ending November 3, and today marks the retailer's official debut of its latest Christmas TV advert. 

John Lewis at Home and Waitrose have launched their first joint venture - just two months after Dobbies and Tesco got the go-ahead to trial a similar initiative. 

Following its support of the ban on ash imports in the wake of the Chalara fraxinea outbreak, the Horticultural Trades Association has met with Lord de Mauley at Defra to highlight industry concerns. 

Tool manufacturer Irwin has become the latest big industry name sponsor of the DIY Week Awards 2012, sticking to its roots with the sponsorship of the Tool Retailer of the Year category. 

Homebase has told diyweek.net that it will be investing in improvements to its website next year after it was ranked near the bottom of a survey of shopping sites. 

...But retailers are noticeably absent from the list of those who pledge to pay staff more than £7.45 an hour. 

Average transaction values were down 2.4% "as customers switched purchases between product categories" at Grafton Group-owned Irish retailer Woodie's DIY during the 10 months to October 31, 2012. 

Next's plans to build a new Home and Garden superstore in Sheffield were thwarted this week when Sheffield City Council refused planning permission for the development. 

As pet retailer Pets at Home revealed a 7% sales increase (up 1.3% LfL) for the 52 weeks ending March 31, 2012, bringing its turnover to £544.3m, ceo Nick Wood has hinted that LfL revenue has increased even further for the year to October 11, 2012.